Swamp Cooler Problems?

Question

My wife and I moved into our condo two years ago and we have hated our swamp cooler from the day we moved in. We have had a company come out and look at it and they say it is working fine, but I seriously doubt it. They said the pump is working properly and they had us buy new pads April '08. I have talked to other people in our complex and they say theirs works well when ours just blows hot air. I swear that all the swamp cooler is doing is just blowing out what ever temperature of air that is outside when it's on. I am not a very good handyman, and I don't have a ladder to get onto my 3 story roof to fix the thing, but I'm just wondering if these swamp cooler people don't know what they are talking about. They say that it is normal for a swampcooler to blow hot air if the temperature is hotter than 85 degrees outside. I live in utah... Dry and Hot. Any suggestions? Anyone know how much a new swamp cooler would cost for a 1300 sq foot condo if I have to go to that route?

Answer 1

In my experience with them they are all c**p and nothing but trouble. I took mine out and threw it away and bought a couple of small room air conditioners and have been happy ever since.

Answer 2

These things work based on the difference in the  wet-to-dry bulb temperature, and typically the output of the cooler should be 20 degrees F lower than the intake.  I'd ask a different repair company to come out and inspect the unit. Ask them to take a wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature reading at your location (if they can't do this, then find a repair company that can do it).  From the readings, they will be able to tell you if the unit is functioning properly.  You can check yourself to see if the actual output air is lower than the ambient...  just use a regular thermometer at the air register closest to the unit and compare with the outside temp.  For more information on how to make wet and dry bulb measurements, Google has a host of sites and information.

Answer 3

I suspect the drain holes in the sides are stopped up and only allowing water to run in a stream instead of saturating tha pads

Answer 4

Swamp cooler work great when is not over 85 degrees, you have to make sure water running just about the right amount

too little the pad will be dry and you will not feel any deffirent.

Answer 5

If its blowing, the fan is working.  If you have new pads and don't feel any moisture coming out the pump is not pumping water into the pads.  You can call the same guys out but I don't think they know anything about swamp coolers.   I had one in Death Valley and it kept me cool when it was over 100.  They blow hot until the pump gets the pads wet(up to 5 min).  Find someone who installs swamp coolers or a friend who works on his own.  As long a the weather is dry they work great.